Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Sermons. By the Rev. J. W. CUNNINGHAM, A. M. Vicar of Harrow; Domestic Chaplain to the Right Hon. Lord Northwick; and late Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. London: Hatchard and Son, and T. Cadell. 1822. pp. xvi. and 433.

We have had the sincere gratification of introducing Mr. Cunningham to our readers on several former occasions. Not only has he appeared before the public as the avowed author of a valuable Essay on Christianity in India, of a Reply to the Thoughts of Dr. Maltby on the Danger of circulating the Scriptures, and of some seasonable Cautions to Continental Travellers, but also as the anonymous writer of three very interesting publications, which, though founded in fable, were intended, and are calculated, to convey and to recommend important religious truths to those who might not feel disposed to receive them under a severer garb. In our review of "A world without Souls," (a work of which it is but justice to the author to remark, that in the later editions he has" rubbed off" some improprie ties in the first, and added many useful and excellent passages,) we had occasion to observe, that the assumption of the mask of fiction was, in his case, the reverse of what it might be in some other instances, a proof that he preferred usefulness to display. Of the manper in which the story of" the Velvet Cushion" is detailed-though we are by no means extravagant admirers of this style of writingwe spoke in terms of warm commendation. In reviewing "Sancho, the Proverbialist," while we declared our belief that the first part of it especially might be highly useful in suggesting some valuable hints on the conduct of education, we yet added the expression of our final hope, that a pen, which, in its lighter mood and occasional CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 252.

exercise, was capable of appealing so powerfully to the understanding and the feelings of the reader, might soon be wielded more seriously,on some occasion whichshould be no less worthy of its powers than of that holy faith which it appeared evidently well qualified to defend and enforce. This hope has not been disappointed; and we are now happy in again presenting Mr. Cunningham to our readers, in his still more appropriate character as a Christian minister, and the avowed author of a volume of sermons. We were prepared to think highly of his merits in this department of sacred literature, from the perusal of several occasional discourses from his pen, particularly one of great value, on the Trials and Encouragements of the Christian Missionary, preached before the Church Missionary Society, and printed at their request. As a writer of instructive fiction, he interested us: but a minister of theGospel never appears to so much advantage in any borrowed character, as in his own; or is qualified to do so much good to society, as when he stands forth in the performance of his proper and acknowledged office, as an accredited" ambassador for Christ,"

"

a

steward of the mysteries of God." There may indeed occasionally be some advantage in concealing the professional garb and wand of the physician, or in laying aside for a time the solemn countenance which might alarm the tender nerves of an inexperienced patient. It is perhaps on this principle that the unprofessional services of laymen and of females, in the cause of religion, have often been productive of such very extensive benefits. And it is perhaps in consequence of this, that clergymen have been induced, in some instances, to write anonymously, or to make use of playful expedients, or fictitious narrative, in the hope of thus arresting the attention of those who would have recoiled from the perusal of a direct pastoral address. Mr. Cunningham, among 5 K

others, adopted this expedient; and if we were not backward in offer ing our commendation to his motives and achievements on these lighter occasions, it will readily be inferred that it is with no slight satisfaction that we hail him now vested in his own robes, and assuming the station and character which he is so well qualified to oc.cupy and adorn. The advantages of concealment are occasional, temporary, perhaps equivocal; and the good effected by it relates only or chiefly to those who are not already enlisted in the ranks of genuine Christianity. And even these benefits may be in a great degree counterbalanced by the want of that confidence which the presence and countenance of a leader be

:

stow upon his friends. The influence of an anonymous writer is that of an individual; whereasthe authority of an experienced minister, who comes forward in his proper character, is that of a chief, and carries with it a weight proportioned both to his personal respectability, and to the experience he has already had, or is believed to have had, in the Christian warfare. When he unfurls his standard, or rather the standard of the common Captain of our salvation, we naturally call to mind his circle of friends, connexions, and parishioners-or, as we may say, his clansmen-who are accustomed to march under it, and are ready to support their leader, in union with the general church militant, in the combat with the prince of darkness. And hence, among other reasons, we are disposed to congratulate our readers on the increasing number of parochial sermons which issue from the press. In every such volume, the author stands forward as the leader of a small band; and we are thus enabled to see, as it were successively developed before us, some of the scattered forces of the army of our Redeemer, each in its appointed station, and ready to add is weight in the general cause. For every zealous clergyman may be

presumed to be supported by some individuals, who have been won by his exhortations, and who exemplify in their lives the influence of the doctrines which he inculcates. In this view the publication of the same truths, by different clergymen, has a multiplied effect, and raises before the eye of Faith a cloud of witnesses in defence of the Gospel.

The volume before us consists of twenty-three sermons on miscellaneous subjects, having no other very close tie of connexion, than that they were delivered by a faithful pastor, from the same pulpit, to his flock during the course of two years. The author remarks, that

"He has been led to this undertaking partly by perceiving the general thirst for this species of publication-partly by an ardent désire, before he is called to his great account, to bequeath to his family, his parish, and his friends, some slight memorial of his interest in their temporal and spiritual welfare; and some less fugitive record, than a mere address from the pulpit, of the principles in which he has found, through the great mercy of God, his own consolation and joy.

for some time entertained of endeavour"Perhaps, however, the wish he had ing to prepare a volume of Sermons for the press might not have been realised, if he had not felt the importance, dur. ing a season of comparative retirertient, of labouring to withdraw the mind from mournful contemplations by occupying it with useful pursuits. And he hopes the facts of his own history on the to be pardoned for so far obtruding

attention of others, as to state, that

he has never felt his trials so little as when thus striving to minister to the wants of a suffering world—as when, having nothing but amite' to offer, he has been endeavouring to cast that mite into the treasury' of God.”— pp. iii, iv.

Perhaps in this last sentence, though written simply to account for the circumstance of publishing a volume of sermons-a circumstance now too common to require much explanation--the reader may trace something of the characteristic style of the author of the se

veral works already adverted to; ly city,' or breathed the air of the a style lively, impressive, and dis-mount' of God; or had been enthrontinguished by many beauties, but ed amidst the powers and principalities

with a mixture of epigrammatic point more usual in works of fancy than in discourses from the pulpit. A single example of what we mean may be given in the following sentence.

"Crown a man to-day, and he may be a corpse to-morrow. The flowers on our brows at one moment, may be scattered over our tomb at another." p. 409. There is also something of the same preference of point to perspicuity, in the following remark, which, being one of the heads of a discourse, demanded that perspicuity should be particularly studied. "A second cause of indecision is the too high or too low regard for the authority of human teachers." p. 10.

We will only cite one more instance, in which an important sentiment is inculcated in a manner perhaps somewhat too poetical.

"There sleeps in many a grave, by which you pass coldly or dejectedly, a brother spirit, who, when all merely worldly friendships are forgotten, or remembered only as the alliances of delusion and ruin, shall rise to claim you at the bar of God as a friend of his bosom, as his glad associate and partner through the ages of eternity." p.387.

We have inadvertently stumbled at the threshold, on these slight criticisms; but, on the whole, the volume, as compared with the author's lighter productions, is marked by an increasing gravity and simplicity of manner and language; suited to the greater solemnity of the occasion, and to the serious occupation of one who is striving, as he himself expresses it, to minister to the wants of a suffering world. We are happy, in this view, in presenting to our readers a very powerful and solemn appeal, grounded on Heb. xii. 22-24.

"Suppose yourselves already introduced into the august assembly we have been contemplating to-day. Could you, if you had seen its glories, if you had trod den the golden streets of the heaven

of heaven; or had held deep converse with those happy spirits whom death hath snatched away; or had rejoiced in the light of the Divine presence; or had surveyed the glorified body of the Redeemer seated on the Throne of his Father and dispensing the blessings of the everlasting covenant, the crowns of pure gold, and the jewels of the sanctuary;-conld you turn from all this, and go back with the same zest to the follies and vices of life? Could you again satisfy yourself with the lean ceremonial of a worldly life, with society without love, with habits of intercourse which go nigh to exclude God from his own world, which crucify his Son afresh,' which do despite to the Spirit of Grace,' which magnify this mo ment of existence into ages, and reduce eternity to a shadow? Could you abandon heaven, and all its glories, for the doubtful pleasures and certain miseries of a worldly life? Would you not exclaim, if solicited to make this world your main pursuit, This is not our home-we have here no abiding citywe seck the city whose builder and maker is God.' Then, my Christian brethren, let your life, and spirit, and conversation prove to the world that such is the present conviction and reso lution of your mind. For these things the midst of the splendid assembly are as sure as though you had stood in which the text presents to you. single day may put you in possession of these joys for ever." pp. 394-396.

A

The subjects of the Sermons (it has been already stated) are miscellaneous. They are evidently selected with a view to practical effect, and exhibit an able and pleasing pattern of that reciprocal dependance between doctrine and precept which appears in Scripture, and the inculcation of which is the only method of instruction calculated at once to arouse a sinner, and yet to cheer him, if he desires to repent and to turn to God, by the merciful promises of the Gospel.

Some readers may perhaps consider it a defect in this volume, that few of the more prominent doctrines of the Gospel are parti

cularly and formally discussed and explained; a defect, if it be such, which the promise of a second volume excites the, hope of seeing speedily supplied. One important doctrine indeed is discussed at length; and we are tempted to extract the beads under which it is treated, as conveying a luminous and instructive epitome of the whole subject.

"We are to consider what progress may be made in the study and use of Scripture without the special in fluences of the Holy Spirit.

1. In the first place, then, it is obvious that, without such special influence of the Spirit of God, it is possible to ar rive at a bare belief in the truth of Scripture. It has been affirmed, by one of the most distinguished judicial cha racters of this country, that the evi dence for the truth of the Gospel was stronger to his mind than that for any fact ever bronght for judgment into a court of justice. But if this be true, no special influence can be necessary to enable us to perceive the strength of this evidence. Men of keen faculties other pursuits, do not forfeit them on approaching the word of God. And, accordingly, the mere truth of Scripture has been admitted by thousands whose lives have sufficiently indicated fie absence of all spiritual influence on their hearts. Believest thou the prophets?' said Paul to Agrippa; and he adds, I know that thou believest,' although the habits of Agrippa at the mo. ment plainly proclaimed the absence of all sanctifying influence on the mind. And, in like manner, it is said, even of those miserable spirits who are farthest removed from all spiritual influence, that they believe, and tremble.'

2. Again: it is possible for an individual, without the special influence of the Holy Spirit, to become acquainted with the contents of the Sacred VọJume. The same faculties which enable him to collect the contents of any other book, do not forsake him in the examination of this." pp. 42, 43.

In the third place, it is possible, without the special influence of the Holy Spirit, to feel the highest admiration for parts of the Sacred Volume. The examiner of Scripture, especially if a man of fine taste, may be charmed with its literary beauties, with the force

[blocks in formation]

"In the first place, it is by the Holy Spirit we are led to make a personal application of the holy Scripture to our own case. The individuals whom we have heen hitherto contemplating, may become, as we have seen, in a measure acquainted with the contents of the Scriptures. But, then, they know them rather for others than them, selves. The truths of that Gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation in them that believe,' instead of entering their minds, lie uselessly on the surface, Nothing but the power of the Holy Spirit can carry the holy seed to its pro per destination in the soul. Paul may plant, Apollos may water, but God. giveth the increase.' Nothing can be more appalling than the deadness of the conscience, till the Spirit of the Lord thus quicken it into sensibility and life-nothing more delightful than its tenderness when this change is wrought, Then it is, that, with the jailor, the man thus visited of God exclaims, • What must I do to be saved? Then it is, that, with the disciples, he asks,' Is it I! Am I the guilty man described in the Gospel, and for whom the Great Shepherd lived and died? Then it is, that, however indifferent before, he exclaims with Job, when admitted to personal intercourse with God, I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth thee, and I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."

2. It is the Spirit of God alone who endears the promises of Scripture to the heart.” pp. 47, 48.

"In the third place: It is the Holy Spirit alone who brings the word of God effectually to bear upon the temper and conduct. It is possible, as we have stated, without any special influence of the Holy Spirit, to admit the truth of Scripture. But without His aid, we cannot obey the Scripture. It is the language of God himself, I will put my Spirit within thee, and cause thee to obey my statutes.' Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.' Man, till brought under this new dominion, is always represented as a captive of Satan-the world as his prison and his lusts and appetites as the chains of his terrible bondage. But it is said,' where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. As soon as this new influence is felt on the soul, our chains begin to drop from us. Like the Apostle, in the dungeon, we find that some pow. erful hand is at work for our deliver. ance, Some angry temper is gradually quieted, some lust is quenched, some passion is bridled. Our powers are gradually enlarged; until at length, loosened from the bands which held us so long and so disgracefully, we' walk abroad in all the glorious liberty of the children of God."" pp. 49, 50.

"With a reference to the influence of the Holy Spirit on the character and conduct," (p. 41.)

"It is intended to examine, "I. What useful or attractive qualities a man may possess by nature.

"II. What are the qualities which the Spirit of God alone can impart to him." "In the first place, then, he may, without the special influence of the Holy Spirit be an honest man-He may wish to rob no man of his earthly rights. He may scorn and detest a lie. He may, if poor, refuse to eke out his scanty pittance by depredation upon the property of others. He may, if a tradesman, hold false weights, and measures, and the thousand shifts and evasions too common in the traffic of the world, in itter abhorrence. He may thus act and feel, and yet be a stranger to the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit, For he inay possess all these qualities in common with the heathen who never heard of the true God; or with the mul, titudes who, having heard of Him, neg lect or despise Him. He may have all these qualities without the smallest sense of his own sinfulness, and of his need of a Saviour; or the slightest value for the word of God, for his church, his Sabbath, or his sacraments-without of fering a single supplication for mercy, or a single tribute of praise and gratitude to the God and Saviour of a guilty world.

"In the next place, a man may be mild and gentle in his temper, without the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit. Nothing indeed can be more obvious, than that such a temper may prevail in the man, without the opera

tion of any principle whatever. Indivi. duals notorious for the absence of piety and for an addiction to gross immorali ties, have been thus gifted. Whole nations have been discovered, remarkable at once for the absence of religion and the gentleness of their demeanour." pp. 59, 60.

"In the third place, great benevo lence or kindness may exist in the mind without the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit. In some cases, it will at once be admitted that this feeling of kindness and tenderness is merely instinctive, and therefore independent of all principle; as, for example, in the case of a parent to a child. In other cases, it is little more than enlarged self-love-a love of others for our own sake. And this is certain, that it is frequently found in minds wholly des titute of the love of God and of our gracious Redeemer." p. 61.

"In the fourth place, a man may be the ardent lover of his country, or of the public good, without the sanctifyinfluence of the Holy Spirit.—I name this quality on account of the high value attached to it in society. But surely nothing can be more obvious than that a man may thus live for the glory of his country; may sacrifice his life on the altar of her liberties; may, at the foot of the throne, gloriously assert the rights of the people against a tyrant, or dis charge the less popular, and therefore more difficult, duty of maintaining the rights of a sovereign against a deluded and murmuring people; he may do all this, and yet be without genuine reli gion." pp. 62, 63.

"In the fifth place, a man may possess much merely formal religion, without the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit.-Many of the Jews, for instance, thus sacrificed the substance of religion to its mere forms, the 'spirit' to the letter. The profligate Herod even heard John gladly,' and was willing to do many things,' although not to make the great sacrifice which God required, And such characters are by no means rare in society. Sometimes their religion is purely mechanical; the result of early custom, or example, or accident. Sometimes it is nothing better than the homage of hypocrisy to the world around them. Sometimes, espe cially what may be called public and congregational religion, is mere sympathy with the feelings and affections of others, attachment to a particular mi

« AnteriorContinuar »